The First Lackey Under The Empress

“Gentlemen,” the white-haired old man in a red academic robe knocked on the table, attracting everyone's attention, and said:

“His Majesty is occupied with numerous affairs, and it is now noon. Today's political discussion will come to a temporary end.

Tomorrow, we must handle government affairs in the hall. As for the new policies... there is no need to rush. Leave your proposals for today on the table, and His Majesty and I will examine them carefully later.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the young scholars realized with surprise that so much time had passed, and it was already noon in the blink of an eye.

They immediately felt their mouths were dry and their stomachs were hungry.

Although they still felt somewhat unsatisfied, since Grand Tutor Dong had spoken, they naturally rose to see him off:

“We respectfully see off His Majesty.”

At the same time, one by one, they placed their thick memorials, which they had prepared long ago, on the table.

It was evident that although Han Zhou was the main one in the spotlight today, these scholars all had their own ideas.

“No need for formalities. In the future, the affairs of the nation and the state will still require your efforts,” Xu Zhenguan said as she rose, nodding slightly.

Throughout the morning, she had been practically a decoration, not expressing any opinions.

Because as an emperor, any action would be infinitely magnified.

Her arrival today was not to make any decisions, but rather had a greater symbolic meaning.

“We will certainly devote ourselves heart and soul to His Majesty and to the Great Yu,” the scholars said in unison.

In the corner.

Zhao Du'an, who was deep in thought, was awakened by the shouts of these people and only then came back to his senses.

He was surprised to find that the recording officer next to him had already put down his pen and was rubbing his sore wrist.

Has the meeting ended?

That's right, it's already noon... Zhao Du'an's stomach rumbled, and after becoming a high-ranking official, he got hungry more easily.

He lowered his head and looked at the dozens of pages of writing in his hand. After pondering for a moment, he ultimately did not say anything.

Originally, he had planned to show off in front of everyone, but after carefully considering the details, he realized it was not that easy.

Firstly, although the situation of the Great Yu Dynasty had many similarities to the Wanli era, there were, after all, differences, and when it came to new policies, any small difference should not be underestimated and had to be repeatedly considered.

Secondly, although he remembered the key points of the "Performance Evaluation Law" and "Taxing Land by Acre," a national policy could not be explained clearly in just a few hundred words.

It was an entire system of strategies. Didn't you see that each of Han Zhou's group's memorials was a thick stack?

They had all been writing repeatedly for several months, but Zhao Du'an did not have the time to sort out the whole thing clearly.

If he rashly spoke at this time, he was afraid that he would not be able to explain it clearly.

If he was caught and stumped by these literati, wouldn't he lose face for himself and his ancestors?

Especially... he was really a bit hungry... This kind of thing was not urgent, there was still plenty of time.

“I still have to think more carefully…”

Zhao Du'an thought to himself, deciding to play it safe. He stood up, thought for a moment, and placed the stack of papers in his hand on the table as well.

Before entering, Mo Chou had told him that no information from the room could be leaked, including any paper with writing on it. None of it could be taken away without inspection.

This was the rule.

In his heart, a bit of mischievousness arose. He wanted to see if Grand Tutor Dong and the Empress could understand it.

As for being plagiarized and claimed as their own... he wasn't worried at all.

Because the paper only had a few scattered words and a few incoherent sentences written on it.

The vast majority of the details were only in his head.

It was absolutely impossible to restore the whole thing with just these fragments and symbols that only he understood.

“Zhao Du'an, come with me,” Xu Zhenguan said, looking at him at this moment.

Instantly, the scholars in the room collectively looked at him for the first time, with varying expressions.

It was impossible to see any hostility, but there was no enthusiasm either.

It was as if they only regarded him as an ordinary official.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” Zhao Du'an responded, suddenly remembering something. He bent down, picked up a basket of pears, and said with a smile:

“Gentlemen, you have been speaking for a whole morning, you must be thirsty. These are pears produced by the Zhaoyu Yamen. Would you like to try them?”

No one moved.

The atmosphere was slightly awkward.

Mo Chou shook her head, thinking that these proud scholars, even on the surface, would not show anything out of consideration for His Majesty.

But it was really unrealistic to ask them to take the initiative to befriend a notorious cruel official.

This Zhao Du'an was also like that, a very clever person. Did he still think about using a basket of pears to befriend these scholars?

However, at this time, a figure in white robes walked gracefully past.

The Great Yu Empress seemed to be leaving, but happened to walk to his side and stop.

She stretched out her jade hand, picked up one, played with it, and nodded slightly:

“You have a kind heart.”

Then she walked out.

This... Seeing this, how dare a group of scholars be presumptuous?

They immediately stepped forward, each taking a pear and thanking him.

His Majesty had taken one, how could they dare not take one?

Zhao Du'an smiled, not caring whether the thanks of these scholars were sincere. He distributed a circle of pears, and then turned to leave, following the Empress.

… …

After the Empress and scholars left one after another, the room in the Xiuwen Hall suddenly became cold and quiet, leaving only two people.

The recording officer in charge of recording the "Meeting Minutes" carefully sorted out the manuscript.

He walked to the head of the table and stood in front of Grand Tutor Dong, who was reading those memorials, and whispered:

“Grand Tutor, it is noon. Let’s go have a meal first. These memorials cannot be read in a short time.”

As he spoke, he put down the meeting minutes in his hand.

These also needed to be reviewed by the Grand Tutor and could not leave this room.

The literary giant of the literary world, the Grand Scholar of the Hanlin Academy, with white hair and beard, but still vigorous in spirit despite his old age, shook his head.

Bearing the burden of formulating the new policies, the first day was full of difficulties. How could Grand Tutor Dong have the appetite to eat?

Upon hearing this, he only waved his hand and ordered:

“Bring all the memorials closer.”

The recording officer reluctantly nodded and walked around the long table.

He moved the memorials one by one in front of the old man, making it easier for him to browse.

"What's over there?"

Grand Tutor Dong had sharp eyes and suddenly noticed a stack of papers on a table in the corner, with what appeared to be writing on them.

The recording officer glanced over and said, "Oh."

"That's the seat of Envoy Zhao. I imagine it's something he wrote. I was sitting next to him, but I was focused on recording and didn't see what he was sketching. I suppose it's also notes?"

As he spoke, he walked over and picked them up.

Grand Tutor Dong shook his head, somewhat displeased that His Majesty had brought Zhao Du'an along.

What was a military officer doing joining in the fun at the Literary Enlightenment Hall?

Could it be that he could understand? He probably just knew the importance of the Literary Enlightenment Hall and came to join in…

Oh well, let him be. Surely after today, that Zhao Du'an would understand that specialization is key, and that returning to diligently handle cases was the right path.

"…Grand Tutor? Perhaps, you should take a look at this…"

However, at this moment, the recording officer suddenly spoke in a strange tone.

He held Zhao Du'an's manuscript, having apparently flipped through a few pages, his expression very odd, somewhat hesitant, somewhat…

Uncertain?

Mostly, though, bewildered.

He couldn't understand it, but his instinct as a scribe told him that the writing on this paper was important.

He couldn't understand it, but it felt profound.

"Look at what?" Grand Tutor Dong asked, puzzled, but seeing the other's expression, he also became curious. After a moment's hesitation, he reached out and took it.

He thought to himself that he wanted to see what Zhao Du'an had written.

Looking down, three words came into view:

Performance Evaluation Law

Grand Tutor Dong frowned, not remembering anyone mentioning this term.

His gaze shifted down, skipped over two lines of gibberish, and paused again.

"Set deadlines for evaluation."

"Hold people accountable for their work."

Hiss… This… Grand Tutor Dong's brow slowly furrowed as he continued to read.

One page, then another…

Beside him, the recording officer watched in astonishment as Grand Tutor Dong read slower and slower, more and more seriously, more and more…

Solemnly.

It was clearly just a fragmented, scattered, seemingly casual manuscript recording thoughts.

Yet Grand Tutor Dong read it with more focus than Han Banshan's "Ten Policies."

What exactly had that Zhao Du'an written?

…

…

Outside the Literary Enlightenment Hall.

Zhao Du'an had originally thought that he would be walking, accompanying the Empress, or sitting in a small cart at the back.

However, to his surprise, the Empress led him onto the royal carriage, into the bright yellow compartment of one of the dozen or so large carriages.

Even Mo Chou didn't have this treatment.

"Does Your Majesty have something to instruct?"

Zhao Du'an was not riding the royal carriage for the first time. He had ridden it to the Son of Heaven's Tower before, but he was still uneasy.

Once the bright yellow curtain was lowered and the carriage moved, only the two of them were left in the spacious compartment.

Xu Zhenguan, who had been playing the part of a "clay sculpture" all morning, was also a little tired at this point.

After sitting down, she casually took off the crown on her head and tossed it aside, pulled out the hairpin, and shook her head, her long black hair cascading down like a waterfall.

At this moment, she was no longer the dignified and majestic Empress, but a pure and otherworldly fairy.

Hearing this, she glanced at him with her beautiful eyes and snorted:

"Can't I give you a ride if I have nothing to do?"

The Literary Enlightenment Hall was indeed closer to the Imperial Court than the Imperial Palace.

But Zhao Du'an didn't think that the Empress was simply giving him a ride.

"How was it, listening in at the Literary Enlightenment Hall today?" Xu Zhenguan asked casually, with a hint of teasing in her voice.

Zhao Du'an pondered for a moment and said cautiously:

"The scholars are all talented, and the Grand Tutor's choice of people is indeed discerning."

Even a small Literary Enlightenment Hall had different scholars, not only with different areas of expertise, but also representing different groups behind them… One could imagine the repeated weighing of considerations behind it.

Xu Zhenguan smiled and said:

"Now, you should know why I said you couldn't go. National policies involve too many aspects and are not simply a matter of cleverness."

She felt that Zhao Du'an's low-key shrinking into the corner today was because he couldn't get a word in, or perhaps couldn't even understand.

"Actually, I…" Zhao Du'an hesitated, wondering how to say it.

But Xu Zhenguan waved her hand to interrupt him and said:

"Alright, let's talk about something serious. Last time… when you and I cultivated in the Yuan Ancestral Temple, did you… feel anything unusual?"

As she said the second half of the sentence, even though she had rehearsed this sentence many times in her heart, she was still a little unnatural, and her gaze was slightly evasive.

In her mind, she couldn't help but recall what the Sea Offering had said to her with a smile that day.

Yin and Yang harmony… Could it be that cultivating the Great Dao with him really did yield twice the results with half the effort?

After that day, although she didn't agree with it verbally, she was concerned about it in her heart. After thinking about it, she was always troubled, so she simply wanted to confirm it today.

That would be good… so she wouldn't overthink things.

"Unusual?" Zhao Du'an was stunned for a moment, and hesitated:

"That day, my cultivation broke through, so it was naturally different from usual."

He couldn't figure out what Zhenbao meant by this. Could it be that she noticed something last time?

Did she realize that his cultivation of the "Martial God Diagram" was different from others?

This guess made him a little nervous.

"…" Xu Zhenguan stared at him for a few seconds, sighed softly, and thought that she was stupid. How could she get an answer by asking him like this?

Then she could only…

After hesitating for a moment, Xu Zhenguan suddenly bit her lip and said:

"You come over here, come to my side."

Ah? Zhao Du'an was stunned.